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Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

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BeyondBlue Hi! Check out this post if you're not sure how to start
  • replies: 0

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are... View more

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are really interested in what you might want to add to these conversations. We get it, having anxiety makes it hard to share in a public place. Remember, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anxiety in some form in their lives. This might be in social settings, at work, or just in the day to day. You don’t need a diagnosis to post here. If it feels like the right spot for your post, go right ahead! We know that feeling anxious can make it hard to reach out so we want you to know that getting this far is amazing and a great start. A few tips for getting the most out of this section: Get involved when you can! Posting and replying is the heartbeat of this community and you DO have something worthwhile to share (when you’re ready ) Every experience is different. There is no competition here. We know how challenging anxiety can be and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. What you are experiencing will be respected and supported here. Trust yourself! You are the expert in your experience. This community works because people like you share what has worked for you. Thank you for getting involved and taking a look. We can’t wait to hear from you! Beyond Blue

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kned Loss of identity and trying to figure my new path out
  • replies: 6

I am currently struggling to find myself regarding my career and overall purpose in life. I've found myself in a place where I am a full time mum, at home with my 2 beautiful children and a baby on the way. The career I once had, is no longer really ... View more

I am currently struggling to find myself regarding my career and overall purpose in life. I've found myself in a place where I am a full time mum, at home with my 2 beautiful children and a baby on the way. The career I once had, is no longer really there due to sector changes. I also don't know whether I want to go back to anything similar. I feel burnt-out from that field. There were many good aspects but also many that were challenging and I just don't have the energy for them plus my home life now. My family say this is a perfect time for me to look at studying something new. However I have no idea what I want to study! Every day (when the kids nap/are at preschool) I try to figure out what I want to do but just go around in circles. Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this going around in circles? Because it makes me anxious that I just cant figure out my life!!

Downandout1 Anxiety -meds and family
  • replies: 2

Ive been having anxiety the last few weeks and went to my doc today to discuss it. He gave me medication and I'm going to make a mental health care plan tomorrow...also, my parents dont think its anxiety, they think its my heart...ive been to a cardi... View more

Ive been having anxiety the last few weeks and went to my doc today to discuss it. He gave me medication and I'm going to make a mental health care plan tomorrow...also, my parents dont think its anxiety, they think its my heart...ive been to a cardiologist and it was fine...they just don't understand. I feel alone and scared.

Xanderman96 What am I doing wrong?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’m 22 and I fell like shit and feel lonely 80% of the time. I act like I’m in the greatest mood round my family and work colleagues but I am not. All I do is sit around doing FA such as eating, playing PlayStation and the only times I go out is ... View more

Hi, I’m 22 and I fell like shit and feel lonely 80% of the time. I act like I’m in the greatest mood round my family and work colleagues but I am not. All I do is sit around doing FA such as eating, playing PlayStation and the only times I go out is for work or to go to the movies and that’s it. I lie to my parents about having friends when I have none. I NEED another person who I can share my thoughts with and also give my heart to someone (girlfriend) and for her to give me her love but no I’m a fat person who does nothing who eats constantly and obviously no one likes (other than my family obviously) ive told two girls and work that I have feelings for them, one called me an idiot and the other who I fell in love with and wished she would said yes told me no. Maybe I’m just one of those people that people talk to and become acquaintances not friends. Like I message them and say hey did you wanna do something but they are always busy or to be quite frank don’t want to do anything with me. I have photosensitive epilepsy so I can’t go to clubs or pubs too meet new people or hanging out with colleagues. as I said, I need that someone to love and for them to love me back but no one will and sorry but that SUCKS i was hoping to come on here for some help, I’m not suicidal or anything but I’m getting to the point of breakdown, what should I do?

RoPo_27 Nervous spasms?
  • replies: 4

Hi, was wondering if anyone could relate to the sensation what are almost like spasms - akin to hypnic jerks. It is like my anxiety is centralised in my shoulders, back and neck - I will react to this sensation as though I am hearing nails on a chalk... View more

Hi, was wondering if anyone could relate to the sensation what are almost like spasms - akin to hypnic jerks. It is like my anxiety is centralised in my shoulders, back and neck - I will react to this sensation as though I am hearing nails on a chalk board, tilting my head to one side because it is difficult to deal with the sheer amount of copious energy. Another thing is when I am alone and in the dark I feel the need (such that it is half-voluntary, half-involuntary) to twitch (convulse, spasm, whatever) almost like I am jumping at a bad thought. I get this engulfing urge when around other people but can sort of subdue it enough so that I do so called "mini-twitches" or coil up. Sometimes when these kind of things get really bad I have to lie down and just let it happen - and feel the urge to wave my arms and head around in a flailing motion. Sounds a bit odd in the written word, but can anyone relate? Thanks

MakeTheWorldABetterPlace An apparently 'successful' person with mental illness who is struggling with the notion of going back to work – Please help
  • replies: 40

To the outside observer I'm a very 'successful' person. I'm a single guy, 32 years of age, I live a alone. I get on well with family. I have a few good friends. I have a PhD. I have a job as a researcher. I have a house that I'm paying off and a car ... View more

To the outside observer I'm a very 'successful' person. I'm a single guy, 32 years of age, I live a alone. I get on well with family. I have a few good friends. I have a PhD. I have a job as a researcher. I have a house that I'm paying off and a car that I own. Outside of work I haven't really had much else one. I have done well at work, but I'm now burnt out. I have worked extremely long hours (+weekends) doing lots of work that is itself hard to do. I've stopped work and taken over three months leave so far. My diagnosis is depression (with mixed anxiety), generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. I'm seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist every fortnight or so. Also, I'm on medication. I have had other medications in the past. My sick leave will be exhausted soon and for some unclear period of time at this stage I will be on income protection while I recover. After a sustained period of working hard I've become burnt out, exhausted, cynical and anxious. This didn't come out of nowhere. I was finding it more and more difficult to get out of bed and make the 1.5 hour or so journey each way to work every day. This led me to increasingly arrive late or abruptly call in sick. In the end, despite my efforts to undertake a herculean task I was unable to finish the task on time. Nor was I able to finish the task by the several rescheduled due dates that followed. I was spent. Exhausted. This was 'the straw that broke the camel's back' as such. At the moment, I may not be 'rational', but I find it hard to imagine going back to work: where I was; or somewhere else. The stress is just too much to handle. I feel that my depression and anxiety are discounted and misunderstood a bit because I'm ostensibly 'successful'. It has been very difficult to achieve what I have. For the last 8 years, at the very least, I have had to deal with the repeated fallout of working too hard (a virtue, something society praises and admires – despite the emotional turmoil it can create). This instance is the worst ever for me. I feel thoroughly broken. I have thought long and hard about how to solve this problem solve. But I'm just exasperated. I spend much of my days just sleeping at the moment. Has anyone else struggled similarly with the idea of returning to work? If so, what did you do and what were the outcomes? What would you suggest?

Megz28 Job hunting stress and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone this is my first ever post. I have suffered from anxiety off and on since I was in my 20’s. My current bout of anxiety is debilitating. I especially suffer in the morning just to get out of bed is so difficult . Recently I have resigned ... View more

Hey everyone this is my first ever post. I have suffered from anxiety off and on since I was in my 20’s. My current bout of anxiety is debilitating. I especially suffer in the morning just to get out of bed is so difficult . Recently I have resigned from my job of 17 years. I resigned because there was a management change and I was being pushed out for the preference of younger people. I experienced so much anxiety leading up to my decision to leave. I had a new job lined up 2 weeks after I left my old one. I started Monday and knew immediately that it was not the right fit for me. I resigned the next day. That experience has meant my anxiety has gone now to an unmanageable level. I feel so daunted about job hunting after 17 years in one job. Also the guilt of finances on the family. Just feeling helpless now and finding it very difficult to face the day. Everyone tells me just find a new job - but getting my cv and applying just seems so hard at the moment.Would appreciate anyone’s advise or similar experience.

Trying55 Is it OCD or is it normal?
  • replies: 6

Hi, So for the past few years since I was about seventeen, I have been struggling with OCD. Before the event that triggered this, I was completely rational about things and did not feel any compulsions to subdue my obsessions. However, since acquirin... View more

Hi, So for the past few years since I was about seventeen, I have been struggling with OCD. Before the event that triggered this, I was completely rational about things and did not feel any compulsions to subdue my obsessions. However, since acquiring the condition, life has been very different. I am trying to learn to overcome and resist my compulsive hand washing but, a continuous obstacle that seems to arise is my inability to identify what an anxious response to a situation is and what a normal response would be. I honestly feel so immersed in my anxious thinking that I feel I have forgotten what a practical hygienic response is to things. So, how do you know what a normal response is? How do you know whether you're overreacting or not? How do you know whether you're thought is completely reasonable or just a manifestation of your anxiety? I honestly I have no idea whether any of this really makes sense but I'm hoping someone will be able to somewhat understand what I mean. Thank you for your time, Trying55

Fizz_wizz First time posting anxiety about work
  • replies: 19

Hi everyone this is my first time posting so I hope I'm doing it right. I have always suffered with anxiety and depression and got help and have been great for 10 years. I have worked in retail In the same place for 7 years and I was happy but recent... View more

Hi everyone this is my first time posting so I hope I'm doing it right. I have always suffered with anxiety and depression and got help and have been great for 10 years. I have worked in retail In the same place for 7 years and I was happy but recently got the opportunity to move into a different roll in a different store but same company I have totally freaked out with panic attacks vomiting and not eating and just wanting to hide, my anxiety is consuming me I have a choice to stick it out or go back to what I was doing before with the chance I get less hours I'm really confused and don't no which way to go if anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

BorderCollie Pit in stomach makes a come back
  • replies: 8

Hi all, I've never done this before and feel like a bit of a flog, but figured it might help to share. I upset someone yesterday, & being a people pleaser I've found it hard to shake. I was sort of seeing this guy, I think he may have overreacted but... View more

Hi all, I've never done this before and feel like a bit of a flog, but figured it might help to share. I upset someone yesterday, & being a people pleaser I've found it hard to shake. I was sort of seeing this guy, I think he may have overreacted but regardless he doesn't want to see me anymore. I'm fine with that, because I know he did things that upset me too and deep down I knew he wasn't a good match, so this is probably a blessing in disguise. However the beauty of GAD has got me thinking he'll run my name through the dirt, which is completely out of my control I know.. but it's also got me questioning whether I'm a good person and all sorts of shitty thoughts that I was managing, up until today. I've also lately had a pit feeling in my stomach, which to be honest I haven't had since I was a little girl and didn't know how to cope with it all. I would usually call my mum but I feel like I rely on her too much. I think I'm just having a bad day and feeling very unsure of myself, but if anyone has any tips on how to stay present I'd love to hear them. My head at the moment is thinking about yesterday and thinking about tomorrow. I've learned a lot this last year about myself and how to manage my anxiety, and I've been warned by my psych that I'm bound to have days where I go back to "the old ways'' which today certainly has been. I just thought I would try a different avenue in self help, so thanks for anyone who is willing to listen or respond. Cheers

Tigerlily77 Ruminating Thoughts
  • replies: 1

12 Months ago I weened off my SSRI medication in the hope that i would be able to deal with my anxiety more holistically. The SSRI I was taking effected my libido and after being with my now partner for 2.5 yrs . That was the only re negative side ef... View more

12 Months ago I weened off my SSRI medication in the hope that i would be able to deal with my anxiety more holistically. The SSRI I was taking effected my libido and after being with my now partner for 2.5 yrs . That was the only re negative side effect however it started to bother me and needless to say my partner was pressuring me to stop taking them because of this. I knew however that they were keeping me together but thought maybe if i found a way to fix my brain chemistry then i wouldn't need them take them again and so the last 12 months began with serious withdrawals and brain balancing and learning new coping strategies. I have spent a small fortune of blood tests, naturopaths and supplements which 12 months later I'm still struggling. I feel like I've done everything i can do holistically to reduce my anxiety even removed my contraceptive implant and have also started living a life alcohol free (not as easy to do as i thought) after realizing that I had been using my nightly few glasses of wine to self medicate for the better part of the last 15 yrs. I feel a million times better physically however after huge life stressors in the last 6 months I am having crippling ruminating thoughts and looking at going back on medication again due to obsessive ruminating thoughts about the most ridiculous things. I obsess about any slight irritation . Mainly sensory things that bother me like noise and smell. Over the last few years I've become really noise sensitive and it has consumed by life the last few months mainly because once something bothers me I can not stop thinking about it and I become obsessed with fixing it even when its totally out of my control. Its become debilitating to the point that i'll end up crying in frustration because it just wont stop. Does anyone have any suggestions that work for them? I find it incredibly difficult to mediate and find repeating the mantra "stay here" to focus on what is right in front of me at that moment to stop the thoughts however my mind has often really gotten well away from me before i remember to do that. Thank you for listening ... This forum is such a safe place for me as its nice to have people understand what I'm going through with out the "crazy" looks.